Thursday, March 15, 2012

Why is it bad to use old ceremonies but okay to invent new ones?

A source has forwarded a little district newsletter blurb about some things an LCMS congregation is doing to make Sunday morning "special."

Family Worship Service Increases Attendance

Trinity Lutheran Church
in . . . is a congregation committed to actively involving
all ages in worship. At their 10:30 worship service children play a more
active role in the service through singing and serving along with
helping the adults be more than just passive receivers.

The structure of the
divine service has not significantly changed, but certain elements have
been added to engage children directly. The service begins with a child
coming forward to light the “Family Candle” which is the Baptismal
Candle normally lit only when a baptism occurs. “It gives a chance to
remind people that our life in Christ and our worship began in baptism.”
says the Rev. . . , pastor of Trinity.

When the candle is lit the congregation joins in confessing, “Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness. Jesus is the light that shines in our lives.” At the end of the service another child is welcomed forward to extinguish the candle while the congregation responds “This candlelight now departs, but Christ’s light remains in our hearts.”

After the invocation
children are invited forward to sing a children’s song. When the song is
finished Pastor B and the children sit down and open the “Gospel
Surprise” box. A child takes the box home each week and brings it back
the following week with an item of his or her choice. When the box is
opened an impromptu children sermon is taught using that particular
item. “There is a palpable sense of anticipation when the box is opened,
not unlike our own spirit longs to hear the Gospel.”adds the Pastor.

The closing has become a
much awaited culmination of the service. The “Family Blessing” is an
adaptation of the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6. Pastor B invites
worshipers to place their hands on their children, spouse, sibling or
even a fellow worshiper (if they agree!) and in unison say, “The
Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord keep you in his care and when your
days on earth are through may you rest in the arms of Jesus.”

There was concern that
the flow of the worship would be affected and the changes might detract
from the reverence of the service. Pastor B
answers,“Fortunately the additions have been embraced by our retired
members. The concern that the mood would become less reverent has easily
been out shined by the enthusiasm of the children.”

Since the service was
altered in late September the average attendance has increased from 87
to just over 100. A notable difference has been the presence of
non-member families. The people of Trinity believe that as Jesus
interacted with children we should also welcome them to be involved in
the Divine Service.

My point is this. This same parish does not follow all the rubrics or use the full measure of ceremonial or church usages possible in Lutheran Service Book. In fact, if some of the things mentioned in the rubrics were included, it might create a backlash against the "Catholic" look of the liturgy. No matter that all of these things are thoroughly "Lutheran" in doctrine and usage -- over many centuries. But, that same aversion to the ancient ceremonies and church usages implicit in the Lutheran Confessions will easily give way to new ceremonies and rituals invented to make things nice, special, or inclusive.

I can well imagine that this same district newsletter would not report on kneeling or chanting restored to usage in this parish nor would they report the restoration of Eucharistic vestments or the use of the chalice in place of individual cups or a hundred other things that are consistent with Lutheran history and identity. But they are happy to report on invented ceremonies designed to make the liturgy more homey (even though it means distorting ancient meanings and replacing them with novelties neither historical nor universal.

It is this split personality toward church usages, ceremonies, ritual, and such that gives our church head aches and not a few heart aches. Why are we more open to the folksy little ditties than the ceremonies that mark our catholic and evangelical confession and identity? It is the question that begs to be answered....

8 comments:

Pastor: Completely agree. There seems to be a sense that being different on Sunday morning somehow makes the Church seem more welcoming. I'm not convinced because for me the purpose of Sunday services is to deliver God's gifts of Word and Sacrement.

Spot On! Every district magazine that comes out has articles praising the creative novelty of various congregations and pastors who have sold out their confession of Lutheran Worship to look more like the worship of the world. Never have I heard of the congregations and parishioners restoring Lutheran Worship. Saddening.

These 'innovative' Lutheran (?) parishes only play into the hands of the Reformed. Thes often say the Lutheran penchant for following the Normative Principle (anything goes if not forbidden in Scripture) is a-Scriptural at best, and anti-Scriptural at worst.

Personally, I'd much rather be considered a rabid liturgy-lover than a happy clappy worshiper.

And spot on, Anonymous! Children (AND adults) receive, not give in worhsip. Sounds more like a Baptist children's 'church' service to me.

After the Divine Service last week the mom of a 2 1/2 year old boy that I baptized shortly after taking the call to this congregation came up to me and asked if I noticed anything about Joshua when he came forward with them to Communion. I had not. She said that he now bows reverently as he approaches and leaves the rail...at 2 1/2!!! Who says children don't get anything from the Divine service? He's learning how to worship every Sunday without special "things" just for kids.

One of the most unfortunate pieces of mistaken thinking in Lutheran circles seems to be that we must be more like the world and the rest of the churches to attract people. Non-Lutheran experts as well as Lutheran theologians say that programs and cute worship does not draw many people to worship or to the church. People are not looking for the same type of thing they get in the world when coming to church, but for authentic Christians, showing love and care, both in ritual and in life. Liturgy, when well-taught and well-done reminds us and points us back to God as the author and finisher of our faith. That is what worship is about, God coming to us in Christ so we go into the world and become His witnesses. All of the symbolism helps our senses of sight, smell, touch, and hearing to produce this reminder. My wife and I attend her home congregation to observe major festivals because such services are offered there with good, Law/Gospel preaching and the sacraments. Friends. Pr. Peters has exactly the right idea.

Live Traffic Feed

Our Means of Grace Window

The Window

This is the Means of Grace Window that is above the altar of Grace Lutheran Church where I serve. It reminds us of the keys (confession and absolution), the wheat(the bread which is the Body of Christ), the cup (which is His Blood), the Word (Scripture), and the Pastoral Office (the red stole). In this one wonderful window we see the treasures of the Church in the Word and Sacraments and I love that it is available for all to see. I realize that this image has been stolen all over the internet but it is a real window, a copyrighted image, belonging to Grace Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Tennessee, which has kindly allowed my use of it...

About Me

I have been a Lutheran Pastor for more than 37 years, serving in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN, in my 25th year here. I have a lot of thoughts (obviously not all of equal weight or importance) and this place is where you meet some of those meandering thoughts from this pastoral mind.

Why begin a blog?

I spend a few minutes a few times a week checking out several different blogs. Some are on-line forums and others are the musings of friends, who, like me, are Lutheran Pastors. Since so many spend so much time in front of their computer, I am sharing a few thoughts in this medium. So join the conversation and see what pops up.